LONDON GOSSIP.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1156, 27 April 1894, Page 33

LONDON GOSSIP.

From Our Special Correspondent. London, March 9. THE NEW PREMIER. So far as tho outer world knows Lord Rosebery lias always been " Prince Portunatus." Whatever ho has touched lias succeeded. As a boy at Eton (forgive tho old yarn) ho announced that ho would marry tho richest woman in England, win tho Derby and become Prime Minister. Unless Ladas disappoints tho high hopes founded on his two - year - old triumphs, all three intentions will by Juno next bo accomplished facts. His Lordship's beginnings did not promise over well. As a youngster ho sowed a respectable crop of wild oats, principally on tho turf. There are plenty of men in tho ring to-day who can remember the boyish Earl's rackety, plunging period, when prophets of evil prodicted for him the fate of Lord Hastings. One of tho worst races he ever had, I fancy, was when Conronno do For, bought for a largo sum shortly beforo, ran second to George Frederick for the Derby of 1874. Other bad days folio wed, and two years later the slender patrimony of the Primroses was fairly dipped, and many good folks shook their heads solemnly over tho young fellow's future. Then camo tho grand transformation scene Lord Rosebery became engaged to tho greatest heiress in England—Miss Hannah Rothschild. Ho was handsome as the day, whilst she was older than ho and decidedly plain. Society indulged in all sorts of predictions, especially when it transpired the heiress was trusting her fortune as well as herself to tho young plungor. Ho had promised, 'twas said, to give up heavy betting; but of course ho wouldn't, and, equally of course, in a few years tho ring would absorb tho Rothschild's millions.

The ring (to their lasting sorrow bo it said) never touched that money, for Lord Rosebery ceased to bet except in trifling sums. He was not married and marred, but married and made. A seemingly rather dull woman, Lady Rosebery was really both clever and kind. She worshipped her husband and their four children and loved all who loved them. The Earl in return made her a devoted husband, and mourned her sincerely when in 1890 she died. Tho fact was, Lady Rosebery, like many Jewesses, was lethargic in temperament. Sho grew stout and old-looking, and consequently disliked going out with her almost boy-faced husband. When disease camo tho poor lady was ripe for it, and she made no struggle Everybody said Lord Rosebery would marry again at once if only for his girls' sakes. But four years have passed, and as Lady Sybil Primrose, now fifteen, will in a year or two bo " out," that reason hardly counts any longer. Two years ago Miss Margot Tennant's name was coupled with that of the wealthy young widower and society now assigns him to the Duchess of Albany. A- marriage with the latter would in some ways be almost suicidal politically. Lord Rosebery has that gift of personal fascination which seems an essential with all great leaders. Sir William Harcourt has not got it, and therefore his long and brilliant services have been passed over, and a man whom five years ago no ono would have dreamt of in such a connection has been preferred by all England to him. MR CHAMBERLAIN. On tho night when Mr Gladstone made his last speech in the Houso ono man was absent, at whose vacant seat the retiring Premier and many others gazed with sorrowful regret. If only Joe Chamberlain had remained loyal to the Radicalism he is still believed to cherish at heart, he and not Lord Rosebery would have been Premier to-day; and what a brilliant Prime Minister in many ways he would have made. Somehow this clever man has playel his cards with wretched effect. The splendid Liberal hand he held he threw away, and the Tories don't trust him enough to deal him trumps. Neither ho nor the Duke of Devonshire, who 15 years ago appeared marked out certain Prime Ministers, have now a chance of high office, and on the Tory side the same remark applies to Lord Randolph Churchill. MB MAJORIBANKS. Simultaneously with Mr Gladstone, tho Liberals in the House of Commons have lost their chief whip, the energetic Mr Majoribanks, whose father, Lord Tweedmouth, died at Bath very suddenly on Saturday evening. To replace him will be difficult, as tho man is a born organiser, and he was trusted by all sections of the i vt-ry mixed majority. Only a man of his superb tact coidd havo kept things straight all through the never-to-be-forgotten Home Rule Bill Session. MR GLArSTONE's RETIREMENT.

Though the Pall Mall Gazette is extrava- , gantly, ecstatically and exuberantly exultant over the fulfilment of its prediction concerning Mr Gladstone's retirement, the fact remains that the contradiction sent from the continent a month ago was perfectly bona fide. The G.O.M.'s hearing and sight seemed then to have improved so much that he fully expected to be able to seo the pending Budget, if not the whole session out. Mrs Gladstone, as tho world knows, has long thrown all the weight of her influence into the retirement scale. Months back she extracted promises from the G.O.M. that if his sight and hearing grew any worse ho would at once quit the fight. Keturning from his holiday, renovated and feeling in capital health, he faced the dutes of Premier with characteristic energy. But less than a fortnight showed the futility of the struggle. Mr Gladstone's hearing grew so bad that aurists had to be called in. On the very day too the occulist Granger proclaimed to the Westminster ho should not examine the Premier's eyes till June, he was summoned to Downing street. The results of both theseconsultations was thatthe G.O.M

succumbed to homo pressure Ever sinco ho has seemed anxious to show by his activity that ho himself could and would (if left alone) havo hold on. Plans are naturally not talked at Downing street beforo tho servants. Semi-playful references to tho G.O.M.'s retirement if his sight and hearing grow worse were, however, dropped at mealtimes once or twice about Christmas. Soon afterwards one of tho footmen left the Prime Minister's service It is believed that either this man or a confederate sold what he had heard to the P.M.G. in an exaggerated form.

The public may not improbably learn the truth about this canard in tho Law Courts shortly. On dit Mr Cust agreed to pay his informant c£loo if his news proved true. Tho informant's story was definitely that Mr Gladstone would resign before the meeting of Parliament. As he did not do this tho contract lapsed. The informant, however, declares ho meant tho meeting of the new session of Parliament, and that the written agreement ho holds will boar this interpretation. Whether the dispute (if it exists outsido tho political flaneur's brain) goes into Court will depend on Mr Astor. He might welcome the opportunity of proving that the news did not reach him through his wife, who is a friend of Mrs Gladstone's.

Mr Gladstone has so many sides to his character that he may settlo down peacefully to his books and literary work, and live many years yet. He has already, it is said, begun a translation of Horace. I confess, however, I fear a rapid break-up. The old warhorso cannot look on quiescently at tho battle. Gladstone wanted to dio in harness, and to bo laid asido on the shelf will, as Sir Andrew Clark predicted, fret and worry him into ill-health. THE TWO PREMIERS. It is the glimpses ono personally gets of the great dramas of politics and history which makes London such a fascinating city to live in. What you can only read about, tho humblest of us can—if w r e choose and keej) our oyes, as Americans .say, "peeled"

I —see bits of. On Monday afternoon, for example, it occurred to me as I left your Government offices at Westminster that Her Majesty had arrived at Buckingham Palace, and that by making a slight detour on my way back (via tho rMall) I might catch her out driving. So I made for tho Palace. Tho Royal party had not started, but tho carriages were waiting inside tho Palace gato3. Public interest, however, centred in a private coup 6 brougham, drawn by two superb bays and perfectly appointed. Coachman and footman wore in mourning, but tho stylo and good tasto of tho equipage were remarkable. This was Lord Rosebery's carriage, an affablo constable informed me, " and," he added, " 'is Ludship his now kissing of 'Er Majesty's hand on 'is appointment as Prummicr." He had already (someono clso stated) being threequarters of an hour over this operation. As I strolled slowly up the Mali a cheer from behind stopped me, and in a moment the new First Lord of the Treasury's highsteppers clashed past, the boyish-looking occupant of tho brougham bowing pleasantly right and left in answer to our respectful salutations. Then came quite a dramatic contrast. Hardly had Lord Kosebery's splendid equipage disappeared than a one-horse Victoria came trottingsloftdy along from the Park direction. Horse and coachman were both old and rickety, and the entire turn-out was respectably dingy. This vehicle contained tho late Prime Minister of England, his daughter, Mrs Drew, and the goldenhaired grandchild Dorothy. The young lady stood up between grandpapa and mama and blow kisses with immense

energy to tho cheering crowd. Mr Glad" stone seemed greatly amused, and the ladies waved handkerchiefs ecstatically. At this moment throo policemen camo riding along at a swift trot to clear a way for Her Majesty, and Mr Gladstone's carriago had to pull into tho side. A moment of expectation, a gradually swelling cheer, and then the Royal landau (preceded and followed by detachments of horse guards) flashed past. I saw tho Grand Old Man stand up bareheaded, tho Queen recognise and bow very graciously to him, and tho Duchess of Albany kiss her hand to little Dorothy. Then the crowd suddenly thickened, and I was squeezed and borne swiftly along towards Charing Cross. It took sometime to disentangle myself, and when C did so Queen and Premier had disappeared.